<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,987,103 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 67,977,324 <ALLOWANCES> 1,093,489 <INVENTORY> 116,286,051 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 204,011,746 <PP&E> 682,296,321 <DEPRECIATION> 61,539,619 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 856,068,400 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 81,416,050 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 491,583 <OTHER-SE> 343,291,848 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 856,068,400 <SALES> 380,462,257 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 387,054,946 <CGS> 320,216,751 <TOTAL-COSTS> 333,320,019 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,924,648 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,123,288 <INCOME-TAX> 15,536,288 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,587,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,587,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .48 <EPS-DILUTED> .48